Untitled 1934

Curator: Here we have an untitled ink and print drawing by Carlos Mérida, created in 1934. What are your first thoughts? Editor: I’m immediately struck by the mood. It feels melancholic and haunting, almost like ghostly figures superimposed on geometric shapes. Curator: I can see that. Mérida, a Guatemalan artist who spent much of his career in Mexico, was deeply influenced by Mexican Muralism, which often explored themes of identity and social justice, although, Mérida’s exploration veers away from direct representation. What do you see when you look at the structure? Editor: The interplay of lines is interesting. It creates a sense of depth, yet everything feels flattened. There's a tension between the organic shapes suggesting human forms and rigid geometric blocks that make me think about surrealism. What do you think that triangle shape suggests? Curator: Well, thinking about the social context in the 1930s, especially within a Latin American context, triangles can sometimes allude to spirituality and social hierarchy. Mérida engaged with Modernism—which moved towards abstraction of forms while retaining references to Indigenous cultures. Editor: It does lend a ritualistic aura to the piece. Looking closely at how he contrasts the fluidity of the figures against geometric elements, I'd say he uses them to dissect the figures' identity. What looks like the outline of a head has been emptied and simplified. Curator: Exactly. Mérida used these forms to engage in conversations about culture. These shapes hint at something ancient meeting something undeniably modern. Editor: It feels like the artist asks us to reconstruct fragmented cultural stories, which the artist hints at, rather than tells. I came into it seeking an interplay between light and form but find myself contemplating complex issues of culture, too. Curator: That is where the piece gains it complexity: on the surface, we get a striking composition, but underneath lies a social commentary. Editor: Indeed. This seemingly simple drawing becomes quite multifaceted upon closer viewing.